Slot reel controller as a peripheral device

Abstract

A disclosed slot reel peripheral has a slot reel, a drive mechanism and a peripheral controller. Using a standard communication protocol such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), the peripheral controller is configured to communicate with one or more master gaming controllers or other slot reel peripherals via a peripheral connection. The peripheral controller may drive the slot reel from position to position by operating the drive mechanism and may send operating instructions to other slot reel peripherals with peripheral controllers. Further, the peripheral controller may control one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., effects lights, back lights, bar code detectors, tampering sensors, position sensors, sound devices, electro-luminescent devices and stepper motors, etc. that perform specific functions of the slot reel peripheral).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation application of co-pending prior application Ser. No. 09 / 478,269 filed on Jan. 5, 2000, filed on which the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 414,659 filed on Oct. 6, 1999, naming Stockdale and LeMay as inventors and titled “STANDARD PERIPHERAL COMMUNICATION.”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to gaming peripherals for gaming machines such as slot machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to slot reels as gaming peripherals for gaming machines.[0004]There are a wide variety of associated devices that can be connected to or serve as part of a gaming machine such as a slot machine. These devices provide gaming features that define or augment the game(s) played on the gaming machine. Some examples of these devices are slot reels, lights, ticket printers, card readers, speakers, bill validat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In preferred embodiments, the slot reel peripheral may be configured to receive high-level instructions from the master gaming controller that do not specify precise control of the drive mechanism of the slot reel peripheral. Following the high-level instructions, the peripheral controller of the slot reel peripheral receiving the high-level instructions may provide low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its drive mechanism. Further, one slot reel peripheral may be configured to send high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the drive mechanism to a second slot reel peripheral. Following the high-level instructions, the peripheral controller of the second slot reel peripheral receiving the high-level instructions may provide low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its drive mechanism.

[0014]Another aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine network including a slot reel peripheral and a plurality of gaming machines. The slot reel peripheral should include a drive mechanism and a single slot reel that is moved from position to position by the drive mechanism. Each gaming machine should include a master gaming controller that controls the slot reel peripheral and a peripheral communication connection configured to communicate with the slot reel peripheral. The slot reel peripheral may be configured to receive high-level instructions from the plurality of master gaming controllers that do not specify precise control of the drive mechanism of the slot reel peripheral. Following the high-level instructions, the peripheral controller of the slot reel peripheral may provide low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its drive mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

As the slot machine has evolved, the features offered to players have become more complex and the potential combinations of gaming devices available to a gaming machine has increased.

First, the number of types of motherboards needed to accommodate all of the potential combinations of gaming devices has become large.

Second, the computational capabilities of the motherboard needed to drive all the devices has become large.

Third, when devices are added to augment the features of the gaming machine or when devices are replaced for maintenance the steps necessary to rewire the device onto the motherboard and load the appropriate software onto the motherboard can be time consuming and require significant shutdown time for the gaming machine.

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